Scene I. OTHELLO, THE The riches of the ship is come on shore! Des. I thank you, valiant Cassio. Parted our fellowship. But, hark! a sail. [Cry within, A sail, a sail! Then Guns 2 Gent. They give their greeting to the citadel: This likewise is a friend. [Exit GENTLEMAN. Cas. See for the rews. Good ancient, you are welcoine;-Welcome, [To EMILIA. mistress:Let it not gall your patience, good lago, That I extend my manners: 'tis my breeding That gives me this bold show of courtesy. [Kissing her. Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips, As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, Des. Alas! she has no speech. Jago. In faith, too much; I find it still, when I have list to sleep: Emil. You have little cause to say so. Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kit Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds. Des. O fie upon thee, slanderer! Jago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk; Des. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst praise ine? Jaga. O gentle lady, do not put me to't: For I am nothing, if not critical. + MOOR OF VENICE. 211 Iago. There's none so foul, and foolish there [do. Iago. She that was ever fair, and never Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud; Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly; See suitors following, and not look behind; lago. To suckle fools, and chronicle small beer. Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion! -Do not learn of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband.-How say you, Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor ?' Cas. He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier, than in the scholar. Ay, Jago. [Aside.] He takes her by the palm: Ay, well said, whisper with as little a web as this, will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. sunile upon her, do; I will gyve+ thee in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so indeed : if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft, which now again you are most apt to play the Sir in. Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy ! 'tis so, indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes for your sake ?--[Trumpet.] The Moor, I know his trumpet. Cas. 'Tis truly so. Des. Let's meet him, and receive him." Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants. Oth. O my fair warrior! Des. My dear Othello! Oth. It gives me wonder great as my con- Des. Come on, assay :-There's one gone to May the winds blow till they have waken'd the harbour. Jago. Ay, madam. Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile Jago. I am about it; but, indeed, my inven- [frize, Comes from my pate, as birdlime does from It plucks out brains and all: But my muse laboars, And thas she is deliver'd. If she be fair and wise,-fairness and wit,- Des. Well prais'd! How if she be black and lago. If she be black, and thereto have a She 'I find a white that shall her blackness fit. Emil. How, if fair and foolish? lago. She never yet was foolish that was For even her folly help'd her to an heir. Des. These are old fond paradoxes, to make praise bast thou for her that's foul and foolish ? • Desire. ↑ Censorions, 1 Foolish. death! And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas, As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, Des. The heavens forbid, But that our loves and comforts should increase, Oth. Amen to that, sweet powers! I cannot speak enough of this content, That e'er our hearts shall make! Oth. Come, let's to the castle.- + Shackle. • Gross and licentious. 1 To shew your good breeding and gallantry. Spoken when Cassio kisses his hand, and Desde mona curtsies. How do our old acquaintances of this isle ?- I prattle out of fashion,+ and I dote choler; and, haply, with his truncheon may strike at you: Provoke him, that he may for, even out of that, will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny; whose qualification shall come into no true taste again, but by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter journey to your desires, by the means I shall then have to prefer them; and the impediment most profitably removed, without the which there were no Desde-expectation of our prosperity. In mine own comforts.-1 pr'ythee, good Iago, [mona, [Exeunt OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, and At tendants. Iago. Do thou meet me presently at the barbour. Come hither. If thou be'st valiant,-as (they say) base men, being in love, have then a nobility in their natures more than is nature to them,-list ine. I The lieutenant to-night watches on the court of guard: First, I must tell thee this-Desdemona is directly in love with him. Rod. With him? why, 'tis not possible. Iago. Lay thy finger-thus, and let thy soul be instructed. Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but for bragging, and tell- | ing her fantastical lies: And will she love him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there should be, -again to inflame it, and to give satiety a fresh appetite,-loveliness in favour; sympathy in years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is defective in: Now, for want of these required conveniences, her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will instruct her in it, and compel her to some second choice. Now, Sir, this granted, (as it is a most pregnant and unforced position,) who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune, as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no further conscionable than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane seeming, for the better compassing of his salt and most hidden loose affection? why, none; why, none: A slippery and subtle knave; a finder out of occasions; that has an eye can stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage never present itself : a devilish knave! Besides, the knave is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him, that folly and green minds look after : A pestilent complete knave: and the woman hath found him already. Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she is full of most blessed condition. ¶ Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity. Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell. [Erit. Rod. Adieu. lago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it; That she loves him, 'tis apt, and of great credit: SCENE II-A Street. Exit. Enter a HERALD, with a Proclamation; People following. Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that, upou certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere perdition of the Iago. Blessed fig's end! the wine she drinks Turkish fleet, every man put himself into is made of grapes: if she had been blessed, she triumph; some to dance, some to make bonwould never have loved the Moor: Blessed pud-ares, each man to what sport and revel his adding! Didst thou not see her paddle with the diction leads him; for, besides these beneficial palm of his hand? didst not mark that? news, it is the celebration of his unptials: So Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but much was his pleasure should be proclaimed. courtesy. All offices are open; and there is full liberty of feasting, from this present hour of tive, till the bell hath told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus, and our noble general, Othello ! Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index, and obscure prologue to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so near with their lips, that their breaths embraced together. Villainous thoughts, Roderigo, when these mutualities so marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main exercise, and incorporate conclusion: Pish!-But, Sir, be you ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you: Cassio knows you not;-I'll not be far from you: Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud, or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favourably minister. Rod. Well. lago. Sir, he is rash, and very sudden in • Much solicited by invitation. Without method. in asters. [Exeunt. SCENE III-A Hall in the Castle. Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and Attendants. Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night: Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop, Cas. Iago hath direction what to do; Oth. Iago is most honest, • Perhaps. To advance them. To trash was to put a stone on a hound's neck to hinder him outstripping his companions. la the grossest manner. Rooms in the ca tlo. ¡Entire. night: To-morrow, with our Michael, good earliest, Let me have speech with you.-Come, my dear love, The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue; [Exeunt Oтн. DBs. and Attend. Enter IAGO. Cas. Welcome, lago: We must to the watch. lago. Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o'clock: Our general cast us thus early, for the love of his Desdemona; whom let us not therefore blame; he hath not yet made wanton the night with her; and she is sport for Jove. Cas. She's a most exquisite lady. lage. And, I'll warrant her, full of game. creature. lago. What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley of provocation. Cas. An inviting eye; and yet, methinks, right modest. lago. And, when she speaks, is it not an alarm to love? Cas. She is, indeed, perfection. lago. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, I have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of Cyprus gallants, that would fain have a measure to the health of the black Othello. Cas. Not to-night, good Iago; I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment. lazo. O they are our friends; but one cup; I'll drink for you. Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was craftily qualified + too, and behold what innovation it makes here: I am unfortunate in the infirmity, and dare not task my weakness with any more. Iago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels; the gallants desire it. Cas. Where are they? [Sings. And let me the canakin clink, clink, A soldier's a man; A life's but a span; Why then, let a soldier drink. [Wine brought in, Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his Iago. Why, he drinks yon, with facility, your Dane dead drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle can be filled. Cas. To the health of our general. Mon. I am for it, lieutenant; and I'll do you justice. * Iago. O sweet England! King Stephen was a worthy peer, His breeches cost him but arown; He was a wight of high renown, And thou art but of low degree: Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other. Jago. Will you hear it again? Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place, that does those things.-Well,-Heaven's above all: and there be souls that must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved. Jago. It's true, good lieutenant. Cas. For mine own part,-no offence to the general, or any man of quality,-I hope to be saved. Jago. And so do I too, lieutenant. Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; lago. Here at the door; I pray you, call the lieutenant is to be saved before the anthem in. Cas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me. cient. Let's have no more of this; let's to our affairs.-Forgive us our sins !-Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk this is my ancient ;-this is my alright hand, and this is my left hand :-I am not drunk now; I can stand well enough, and speak well enough. [Exit CASSIO. Iego. If I can fasten but one cup upon him, With that which he hath drunk to-night ready, He'll be as full of quarrel and offence Whom love has turn'd almost the wrong side outward, To Desdemona hath to-night carons'd All. Excellent well. Cas. Why, very well, then you must not think [Exit. then that I am drunk. Mon. To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch. Iago. You see this fellow, that is gone before: He is a soldier, fit to stand by Cesar, And give direction: and do but see his vice; 'Tis to his virtue a just equinox, And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. drunkards, Am I to put our Cassio in some action That may offend the isle :-But here they come: stream. Re-enter CASSIO, with him MONTANO and Cas. 'Fore heaven, they have given me a rouse § • Dismissed. 1 Asy scheme be called a dream. I fear, the trust Othello puts him in, On some odd time of his infirmity Mon. But is he often thus? Iago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep: The general were put in mind of it. • Drink as much as you do. For the whole of this song, see Percy's Relics of 1 While the clock strikes two rounds, i. c. four-and twenty hours. + Slily mixed with water. Enter RODERIGO. Iago. How now, Roderigo? [Aside. [Exit RODERICO. Mon. And 'tis great pity, that the noble Moor 1 pray you, after the lieutenant; go. Should hazard such a place, as his own se- It were an honest action, to say Iago. Not I, for this fair island: I do love Cassio well; and would do much Re-enter CASS10, driving in RODERIGO. Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue ? [Striking RODERIGO. [Staying him. Mon. Nay, good lieutenant, I pray you, Sir, hold your hand. Cas. Let me go, Sir, Or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard. Mon. Come, come, you're drunk. Cas. Drunk ! Of all that I do know: nor know I aught Oth. Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule; Shall lose me.-What! in a town of war, Mon. If partially affin'd, ‡ or leagued in office, mu-Thou dost deliver more or less than truth, [They fight. Iago. Away, I say! go out, and cry-a tiny ! [Aside to ROD. who goes out. Nay, good lieutenant,-alas, gentlemen,Help, ho! Lieutenant, Sir,— Montano, Sir;Help, masters!-Here's a goodly watch, in[Bell rings. Who's that that rings the bell?-Diablo, ho! The town will rise, God's will, lieutenant! hold; deed! You will be sham'd for ever. Enter OTHELLO, and Attendants. Oth. What is the matter here? Mon. I bleed still, I am hurt to the he dies. Oth. Hold, for your lives. Thou art no soldier. lago. Touch me not so near: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth, Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio; There comes a fellow, crying out for help; sword, To execute upon him: Sir, this gentleman lago. Hold, hold, lieutenant, Sir, Montano,-The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot, gentlemen, Have you forgot all sense of place and duty? Hold, hold! the general speaks to you; hold, for shame! Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this? In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom Cas. I pray you, pardon me, I cannot speak. Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil; The gravity and stilness of your youth Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather Yet surely Cassio, I believe, receiv'd, Oth. I know, lago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio:-Cassio, I love thee; but never more be officer of mine. Enter DESDEMONA, attended. Look, if my gentle love be not rais'd up;— Des. What's the matter, dear? Oth. All's well now, sweeting; Come away to bed. Sir, for your hurts, Come, Desdemona; 'tis the soldier's life, Cas. Ay, past all surgery. Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part, Sir, of myself; and what remains is bestial. My reputation, lago, my reputation. Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received some bodily wound; there is more offence in that, than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving: You have lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general again: You are but now cast in his mood; a punishment more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an imperious tion: sue to him again, and he's yours. Cas. I will rather sue to be despis'd, than to deceive so good a commander, with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow-O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee-devil! lago. What was he that you followed with your sword? What had he done to you? Cas. I know not. Jago. Is it possible? Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore.O that men should put an enemy in their mouths, to steal away their brains! that we should with joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts! lage. Why, but you are now well enough: How came you thus recovered? Cas. It hath pleased the devil, drunkenness, to give place to the devil, wrath one unperfect ness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself. lazo. Come, you are too severe a moraler : As the time, the place, and the condition of this Country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is mend it for your own good. Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me, I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange 1-Every inordinate cup is unblessed, and the ingredient is a devil. Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used; exclaim no more against it. And, good lieutenant, I think you think I love you. Cas. I have well approved it, Sir,-1 drunk! lago. You, or any man living, may be drunk at some time, man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife is now the general;-I may say so in this respect, for that he hath de. voted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of ber parts and graces: -confess yourself freely to her; importune her; she'll help to put you in your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, that she holds it a vice in her goodness, not to do more than she is requested: This broken joint between you and her husband, entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than was before. Cas. You advise me well. lago. I protest in the sincerity of love, and bonest kindness. Cas. I think it freely, and, betimes in the morning, I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me: I am desperate of my fortunes, if they check me here. lego. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I must to the watch. • Dismissed in anger. + Talk foolishly. + Bet. Cas. Good night honest Iago. [Exit CASSIO. lagc. And what's he then, that says I play the villain ? When this advice is free I give, and honest, Enter RODERIGO. Rod. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost spent ; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled; and, I think, the issue will be-I shall have so much experience for my pains: and so, with no money at all, and a little more wit, return to Venice. Lugo. How poor are they, that have not patience! What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? And wit depends on dilatory time. Though other things grow fair against the sun, Pleasure and action make the hours seem short. My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress; Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart, ACT III. [Exit. |